The fish cage farming project that was introduced in Kabarole district to increase fish production has stalled.
Fish Cage Farming, is a process whereby a cage is placed in a lake or a pond and the young fish is kept there to grow and feed. It was introduced by the district fisheries department two years ago.
Kabarole district was selected as a favorable location for fish cage farming because it has 54 crater lakes, which are suitable for fishing. The project has, however, never taken off because the fisheries department lacks funds to popularize the project among the fish farmers in the district.
The district had planned to popularize the project among fish farmers in the district in a period of one year through purchasing more than seven fish cages, but up to date, some fish farmers are not even aware of the project. Two demonstration farms were also supposed to be set up in Kichwamba Sub County, but none exists.
Francis Musinguzi, a fish farmer in Rwimi Sub County, says that he heard of the project a year ago, but no one from the fisheries department has ever sensitized him on the new fish farming methods.
According to Musinguzi, when he learnt that the project will be introduced, he was excited and ready to take it up, but he is disappointed it stalled.
Moses Irumba, a fisherman in Harugongo village, Kichwamba Sub County, says that he wasn’t aware of the fish cage farming method and that it is his first time to hear about it. Irumba says that he is using the usual method of feeding his fish in a pond and he is successful.
He however says that the district should revive the project and teach fish farmers, because it will increase fish production.
//Cue in: “I don’t know what it is…
Cue out: …it can improve on our fish.”//
But the district fisheries officer, Brian Baguma, says that the fisheries department is cash-strapped to implement the project. Baguma says two years ago, they had expected to receive funding from the Agricultural Extension Commission Grant, meant to popularize and implement fish cage farming, but the department didn’t receive the funds, which affected the project.
Baguma says the fisheries department needs funds for transporting officials and their equipment to several parts of the district to teach the farmers about the project.
But Baguma is optimistic that the project could be revived this financial year, following an increase of funds allocated to the district production department.
